1 John 2:17
The James Method Verse Mapping
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1 John 2:17 (NIV, 1984 version):
17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Here’s the concept map I created for this verse:
Here is an image of my verse map for 1 John 2:17. I will also type out what I have written for easier reading.
Keep in mind that a lot of my writing is shorthand or bullet points rather than complete thoughts or sentences due to limited space in the journal. That shorthand is reflected in the content I have typed out.
1 John 2:17 (NIV 1984)
17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Translations (key differences bolded)
KJV: And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
NKJV: And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
ASV: And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
NASB20: The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.
NLT: And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
ESV: And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
NET: And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.
Context
Author: John
Date: Between 85-90 AD, from Ephesus
Audience: Gentile Christians, all believers everywhere
Purpose: Contrasting world with God
Key Words
I’m studying Greek, so I’ve included the Greek terms for each key word.
World
Greek:
Definition: earth, people, ungodly multitude that is hostile to God, all things earthly
Desires
Greek:
Definition: lusts, cravings, longings, desire for what is forbidden
Pass away
Greek:
Definition: fade away, to depart, go away, disappear
Will
Greek:
Definition: what pleases God, what God wishes to be done
Lives
Greek:
Definition: abides, remains, not to depart, continue to be, not to perish, last, endure
Forever
Greek:
Definition: unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity
Cross References
John 6:40: “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
God’s will is that we will look to Jesus and believe. Then we will have eternal life.
Psalm 102:25-26: 25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
Heaven and earth will perish, but God will remain.
Isaiah 40:8: “The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
Grass and flowers fade but the word of God is forever.
Matthew 24:35: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s words will not.
Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Only those who do God’s will will enter heaven.
Romans 12:2: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Do not conform to the world; test and approve God’s perfect will.
1 Peter 4:2: As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
Live not for earthly desires but for the will of God.
John 10:27-28: 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
My [Jesus’s] sheep listen to my voice and follow me; I give them eternal life.
View of God
God is eternal, and only through him can we have eternal life. He gives eternal life to those who do his will. His will is good and pleasing and perfect. God and his word will never pass away.
View of Man/Self
Without God, I am like the world - I am destined to pass away. But if I turn away from the world and turn to God, I will receive eternal life. I need to do God’s will - to believe in Jesus.
Reflection and Application
God created this earth for our use and enjoyment, but we need to keep that in the right perspective - everything here is temporary and should not hold the highest importance in our lives. We should especially not pursue the things of this world that are sinful. What should we pursue? God’s will. God’s will is that we will believe in Jesus and be saved. That is the only thing that will last forever and bring us eternal life.
Prayer
Lord, as I go throughout my days, help me to pursue things that are good and right - things that glorify you. Protect me from the evil one who wants to steal me away from the main thing that I know is in your will - to have faith in Jesus and to believe in him. Thank you, Lord, for your gift of eternal life. This is the promise that keeps me believing and gives me hope.